In vivo methylation of guanine by the organophosphorus insecticide tetrachlorvinphos

The in vivo methylating capability of the organophosphorus insecticide tetrachlorvinphos, assayed by the formation of 7-methyl-guanine in mouse liver, was investigated. Following intraperitoneal injection of male mice with different doses of the 14C-insecticide, labelled at the OCH3 groups, the total and specific radioactivity of nucleic acids and protein were determined. The 14C-labelling in the isolated macromolecules reached its maximum 24 hours following administration of the insecticide. Analysis of the acid hydrolysate of DNA and of RNA on Dowex-50 WX-12 revealed the presence of (7-14C) methylguanine. At maximum 14C-labelling, the amount of radioactive 7-MeGu, calculated as fraction of total dose, was around 9 X 10(-5) and 39 X 10(-5) for DNA and RNA, respectively.     

Microbial degradation of trifluralin by Aspergillus carneus, Fusarium oxysporum and Trichoderma viride

3H-Trifluralin was synthesized by condensation of 3H-4-chloro-3,5-dinitro-alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluorotoluene with di-n-propylamine. After incubation of trifluralin with Aspergillus carneus, Fusarium oxysporum and Trichoderma viride for 10 days, a small percentage (less than 10%) of unchanged herbicide was recovered in the extractable fraction. This indicates a fairly rapid degradation of the herbicide by the fungal species. Other than trifluralin, the culture medium contained at least five labelled products: 2,6-dinitro-N-n-propyl-alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-p-toluidine; 2,6-dinitro-alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-p-toluidine; 2-amino-6-nitro-alpha, alpha, alpha-trifluoro-p-toluidine, 2,6-dinitro-4-trifluoromethyl phenol and a major polar product which constituted more than 50% of the total extractable transformation products. A pathway, which simulates that of aerobic degradation of the herbicide in soil, is suggested for the microbiological degradation of trifluralin.     

Variation in certain characters and properties of scotch pine needles in geographic cultures

Morphophysiological and anatomical characters of needles that are used for characterizing infraspecific taxa have been studied in Scotch pine geographic cultures established in the forest-steppe zone of Siberia. Variation in these characters has been revealed, which reflects the polymorphic structure of the species and the effect of natural selection on the composition of populations in new natural-cimatic conditions.     

Environmental modelling of use of treated organic waste on agricultural land: a comparison of existing models for life cycle assessment of waste systems.

Modelling of environmental impacts from the application of treated organic municipal solid waste (MSW) in agriculture differs widely between different models for environmental assessment of waste systems. In this comparative study five models were examined concerning quantification and impact assessment of environmental effects from land application of treated organic MSW: DST (Decision Support Tool, USA), IWM (Integrated Waste Management, U.K.), THE IFEU PROJECT (Germany), ORWARE (ORganic WAste REsearch, Sweden) and EASEWASTE (Environmental Assessment of Solid Waste Systems and Technologies, Denmark). DST and IWM are life cycle inventory (LCI) models, thus not performing actual impact assessment. The DST model includes only one water emission (biological oxygen demand) from compost leaching in the results and IWM considers only air emissions from avoided production of commercial fertilizers. THE IFEU PROJECT, ORWARE and EASEWASTE are life cycle assessment (LCA) models containing more detailed land application modules. A case study estimating the environmental impacts from land application of 1 ton of composted source sorted organic household waste was performed to compare the results from the different models and investigate the origin of any difference in type or magnitude of the results. The contributions from the LCI models were limited and did not depend on waste composition or local agricultural conditions. The three LCA models use the same overall approach for quantifying the impacts of the system. However, due to slightly different assumptions, quantification methods and environmental impact assessment, the obtained results varied clearly between the models. Furthermore, local conditions (e.g. soil type, farm type, climate and legal regulation) and waste composition strongly influenced the results of the environmental assessment.